Stacking and nesting containers



March 5, 1957 J. M. GORDON 2,783,915

STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 12, 19 53 3 Sheets-Sheet 11 IN V EN TOR.

March 5, 1957 J. M. GORDON 2,783,915

STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 12, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 5, 1957 J. M. GORDON 2,783;915

STACKING AND NESTING CONTAINERS "Filed Oct. 12, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ing right-angularly related legs telescopically mounted in the adjoining ends of the upper tubular handle portions of a side member and end member ofthe lug. According to the invention, the legs of the stabilizer bars or connector elements are arranged for free pivotal and sliding movement in bearings carried by brackets or stabilizer support members, the latter being fully flexible to compensate for tilting movement of the legs during pivotal movement of a side or end member to its open position, so as to avoid binding of the legs in the bearings which would impair such opening movement of the members.

A further object is to provide a lug of the class specified in which the stabilizer bars serve as corners for the lug when the latter assumes its open condition, said bars aifording protection for the vertical edge portions of the side and end members and preventing bending or twisting of the latter. As another feature of the invention, the legs of the stabilizer bars carry stops adjacent their free ends, these stops being operative to limit the outward sliding movement of the legs and thus the outward pivotal movement of the side and end members.

A still further object of the invention is to provide 'a lug of the type indicated which is simple in construction and economical to produce, the bottom, sides, and associated parts being stamped from light-weight aluminum alloy sheet stock and other parts being applied to these main members by simple riveting or welding operations.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, which are intended for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are respectively top plan, bottom plan, side and end clevational views of the improved container or lug;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of several of the lugs, shown in nested relation;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through several of the lugs of a stack, taken on line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view through one of the lugs, showing the side members pivoted outwardly to their open position;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the stabilizing devices employed at the corners of the lug structure;

'Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view through the upper tubular portion of one of the end members, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the supporting means for the stabilizer bar;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of one of the corners of the lug, showing the of identical end wall members 17, each made from sheet material, such as aluminum alloy.

The base consists of a rectangular plate 20, the longitudinal or side edges of which are curled downwardly and then upwardly to provide hinge loops or bearings 21. Riveted or otherwise secured against the bottom of the plate at the ends thereof are transverse hinge strips 22 which are provided with hinge loops 23, similar to the hinge loops 21, the elongate loops 23 projecting beyond the ends of the plate and being disposed in the horizontal plane of the loops 21. As shown in Fig. 2, the hinge loops 23 are made shorter in length than the overall width of the base so that there exist square cutouts 24 at the corners of the base.

Secured against the under side of the base plate 20 are runners or skids 25 which, as shown in Fig. 7, are inverted hat sections, the ends of the bottom flanges of the runners being folded upwardly to provide backing portions for the end hinge loops 23. The runners 25 provide supports for the lug, being restable upon and slidable along a floor or other surface.

Each side wall member 16 consists of a vertical, rectangular plate 28, the lower edge of which is offset outwardly and curled downwardly and inwardly to provide a longitudinally-extending pivot or hinge tube 29 the latter being received in the side hinge loops 21 to hingedly connect the side wall members 16 to the base 15 for movement from the vertical, closed position shown in Fig. 4 to the outwardly inclined, open position illustrated in Fig. 7.

The upper portions of the plates 28 are offset inwardly, these offset portions then extending upwardly and being bent outwardly and downwardly (Fig. 11). The downwardly bent portions 30 are secured to the upper flanges 31 of 2 strips 32 which, in turn, are secured against the outer surfaces of the plates 28. The strips 32 and upper bent portions of the plates 28 together provide longitudinal tubular portions 33 of rectangular cross sectional shape. The edge portions of the plates 28 are curled around to provide vertical reinforcing loops 34 below the tubular portions 33 (Figs. 5 and 10).

Each end wall member 17 is similar to a side wall member 16 but is, of course, shorter in horizontal length. Each wall member 17 consists of a vertical rectangular plate 40 having a curled pivot or hinge tube 41 pivotally mounted in a hinge loop 23 of the base 15, the end wall members 17 thus being arranged to pivot from their vertical closed position shown in Fig. 3 to the outward open position illustrated in Fig. 5.

At their upper ends, the end wall members 17 are provided with tubular handles 42 of rectangular cross-section, these handles being formed by outwardly and downwardly bent upper portions of the plates 40 and 2 strips 43 secured thereto. The vertical edges of the plates 40 are curled to provide reinforcing tubes 44 below the handles 42 (Figs. 5 and 10). As shown in Fig. 1, the tubular handle portions 42 are somewhat wider than the corresponding handle portions 33 of the side wall members 16.

The lug is provided with combined reinforcing and bumper means at its corners, adjacent its lower end. This means consists of bumper elements 45 which, as shown best in Fig. 2, are bent rods each having rightangularly related legs 46 and a rounded intermediate corner 47. The legs 46 fit within the adjoining ends of the pivot tubes 21 and 23 of the members 16 and 17 with their rounded corners 47 disposed within the openings 24, these corners thus being exposed and providing strong and rigid bumpers capable of taking the shocks which may occur when the corners of the lug strike other objects. The bumper elements 45 further serve to retain the pivot tubes 29 and 41 in their respective hinges 21 and 23 and prevent twisting of the lower ends of the plates 28 and 40.

It has been explained that the improved lug is readily convertible from a vertical-sided box-like structure in which the side and end members 16 and 17 extend vertically to hold articles (Figs. 1 to 4), to an open or expanded, nestable structure in which the side and end members diverge outwardly as shown in Fig. 5. Expansion and contraction of the lug is readily accomplished by manually pivoting the side and end members 16 and 17 on the lower hinge portions 21, 29 and 23, 41, means being provided for limiting pivotal movement of the members and arranged as later described. It is important that the side and end members 16 and 17 bestabilized when by an arcuate bend 61.

they assume their open positions so as to providestability at the upperopen end of the lug and to preventtwisting hf the members. The stabilizing means'is constructed and arranged as nextdescribed.

'A stabilizing means is located at each corner of the lug adjacent its upper open end and each includes a brack et or support element 50 or 59 disposed respectively within the upper tubular portions 33 and 42 of the side and end members 16 and 17. Each support element 50 and 50 consists of a horizontal, flexible strip 51, one end of which is riveted against the inner surface of the upper portion of a handle 33 or 42, the strip thus having a free end constituting a leaf spring. The free ends of the spring .strips 51 have downwardly bent ears 52 and 52 provided withfiared bearing holes 53.

Attached to the under sides of the strips 51, intermediate the ends thereof, are bearing blocks 54 having bearing holes 55 axially aligned with the holes 53. The outer bent end 52, 52' of the support elements 50 and 50' are located adjacent the open ends of the tubular portions 33 and 42. The ears 52, '52 are of a width to fit closely within the tubular portions to prevent undue lateral movement of the leaf springs. It is to be noted that the cars 52. are somewhat wider than the cars 52 to fit within the wider handles 42 and that the support elements 50' are so mounted as to locate theirbearing holes 53, 55 at opposite sides of the vertical center lines of the handles 42, see Fig. 1.

The stabilizer means also includes stabilizer bars 58 having right-angularly related legs 59 and 60 connected The legs 59 extend through the bearing'holes 53 and 55 of the support elements 50 which, as explained, are mounted within the tubular portions 33 of the side members 16. The legs 60 extend through the bearing holes 53 and 55 of the support elements 50' located within thehandles 42 of the end members 17. Thus, the stabilizer bars 58' have their legs slidably arranged in the adjoining ends of the upper tubular portions of the side a'ndlend members.

In addition to being axially slidable in thebearing holes 53 and 55, the legs59 and 60 are also adapted to tilt in Ivan'ous directionswithin these holes which, as shown, are of somewhat larger diameter than the legs. By this provision, the stabilizer bars can slide and tilt to compensate for relative pivotal movement between the side and end members. Due to the fact that the free ends of the supporting elements are flexible, they may yield downwardly as shown in Fig. 9 to allow downwardly tilting movement of a leg 59 or 60 and thereby compensate for the arcuate movement imparted to a side or end member being moved to its outward, open position.

For example, assuming that the side member 16 of Fig. 9 is in its vertical closed position, when the end member 17 is' hinged to its inclined, open position as indicatedby the broken lines, the leg 61) of the stabilizer bar 58 is caused to move in an arc defined by the arrow. Such arcuate movement results in outward sliding movement of the leg 59 and in downward tilting movement of the leg 59 as shown. When the tilting movement is in excess of the degree permitted by the clearance between the bearing holes 53, 55 and the leg 59 so that the leg tends to bind therein, the leaf spring 50 flexes downwardly as shown to compensate for the angularity of the leg and thus allows free sliding movement of the leg.

In the event that both wall members 16 and 17 are pivoted outwardly simultaneously and at the same rate of movement, the stabilizer bar will remain horizontal so that the support elements 50, 50' will remain unfiexed.

Assuming that the side and end members are tilted outwardly at different rates of movement, one or both of thelegs 59 and 60 may be subjected to combined downward and lateral forces, in addition to outward sliding movement. Due to their fiexibilty, the free portions of theleaf springs 50 are adapted to twist about their longitudinal axes, as indicated by the curved arrows in Fig. 8,

to preventbinding of thelegs-59 or 60 in their bearings 52 54 so that unimpaired pivotal mdvemefit 'of' 'th'ejside and end wall members is assured.

The'stabilizer bars'58 further serve to limit-the outward pivotal movement of the side and .end members, each leg 59 and 60 carrying a cotter 62 or other stop element adjacent its free end, said pins being adapted to strike against the bearing blocks-54 as the sliding legs reach the extent of their outward movement (Fig. -9). The side and end members thus are allowed to pivot to the angular position shown in Figs. 5 and 7 to effect the expansion necessary for the 'lug' to receive a similarly expanded lug for nesting purposes.

The improved lug also embodies'locking means operative to releasably retain the sideand end wall members in their erect, closed positions. Referring particularly to Figs. 1,5 and 7, the lockingmeans includes a bail-like locking bar 65 having oppositeparallel leg's 66 connected by a cross-bar 67,' the latter havingacent ral hand-grip portion 68 olfset from the'plaiie of'thebar. The-legs 65 have inwardly directed pivot portions 69 which extend toward each other and substantially parallel to the crossbar 67. These pivot portionsare rotatably mounted in bearing elements 70 securedagains t the inner surfaces of.

the end plates 40, adjacent theupper ends of the same.

It is to be noted th'at'while the locking bars 65 are vconstructed from'round stock, the inner facing sides of ofjtheir le s 66 are forced into latches or' kee'pers 75 secured aga'in'stthe inner faces of the side wall members 16. As shown, the keepers-75 have inwardly 'offset'upper flanges which define, with the inner sides of the handle portions '33 of theside members 16, grooves or channels :76 for receiving the locking portions 71, the channels being of such' width as to frictionally retain the locking portions therein. As illustrated in Fig. 11, the inner sides of the handle portions 33 are indented to provide detent notches 77 into whichthe locking portions 71 snap when the bars 65 are forced downwardly t-olocking position.

Assuming that the lug is in its opencon'dition illustrated in Figs. .5 and 7, it may be loaded by simply placing articles, such as the milk cartons C, upon its bottom wall or base .15. The base may be dimensioned to receive, for example, twenty-four of these cartons. After the cartons have been placed upon the base, the side and endwalls 16 and 17 are manually tilted upwardly to their erect positions as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and '6. As these members approach their closed positions, they engage the outermost cartons of the group so that continued pivoted movement of the members causes them to lightly compress the group, both sidewise andendwise, to thus clamp the cartons in place. During such'inward pivotal movement of the members, the legs of the stabilizer bars 58 slide inwardly into the respectivetubular portions 33 and 42 of the side and end members, with the support elements 50 .and 59' flexing or twisting to allow free sliding movement.

After the side and end members have been closed, the locking bars 65 are pivoted downwardly to snap their legs into the keepers 75. The bent portions 69 of the legs 66 have offset lugs 78 which engage the inner ends of the bearing elements 70. Consequently, movement of the locking bar toward either side of the lug is prevented and the side members 16 thus locked against outward pivotal movement. It is also .to be'noted that the endsof the cross-bars 67 engage against the inner ends of the keeper 7 elements 75, so as to prevent outward pivotal movement of the end members 17.

The closed lug is exceptionally strong and durable, being capable of withstanding very rough handling, including dropping upon concrete floors. Due to the compressing of the cartons C between the sides and ends of the lug, shaking of the cartons is effectively prevented so that damage thereto and spilling of their contents is avoided. In addition, the bottom, sides and ends of the lug, being smooth and devoid of inner projections, do not indent the supported articles so that damage thereto, which may result when wire and other structures are employed, is likewise avoided. The relatively wide handles 42 at the ends facilitate handling the loaded lug and the runners 25 aid in sliding the lug along a floor.

The filled lugs may be readily stacked as shown in Fig. 6 by simply placing each lug upon the rim at the open upper end of another lug, the runners 25 being so dimensioned and arranged that they fit closely between the handle portions 33 and 42 of the side and end members to avoid relative lateral movement between the lugs of the stack. The stacks of lugs may be placed in side-by-side relation with their portions 33 abutting. The stacks thus are closely arranged while leaving sutlicient space therebetween through which cold air may circulate when the lugs are disposed in a refrigerated space.

As previously indicated, the present lug is particularly adapted for holding packaged food items, such as milk, bread, eggs, etc., the lug being made in various sizes to accommodate a selected number of the packages. When used for handling some articles, such as cartons of eggs, the lug may be provided with partitions or separators.

When it is desired to remove the contents from a lug, the locking bars 65 are forced upwardly to free their locking legs 66 from the latches 75. With the side and end members 16 and 17 thus released, they may be readily pivoted outwardly to their extended positions illustrated in Figs. and 7. As previously explained, the angular bars 58 serve to limit the outward tilting movement of the members 16 and 17 and to stabilize the same. At the same time, these bars provide full protection for the vertical edge portions of the members,

i as will be observed by reference to Fig. 5.

With the lug thus opened, the packages or cartons C maybe removed therefrom. This lug and other empty lugs may be nested by simply placing one within another as shown in Fig. 5 with the runners 25 of each lug resting directly upon the base 15 of the next lower lug. By this procedure, a large number of the lugs may be nested in a very compact group which will occupy a minimum space in a storage area or in a transportation vehicle.

The present lug, which has met the'wide' approval of the bakery, dairy, meat packing and other food industries, is highly sanitary, being constructed entirely from end edges of the base and arranged for pivotal movement capable of nesting within a second, similarly expanded container with its base resting upon the base of said secand container; connecting bar elements located at the corners of and adjacent the upper portion only of the container, each bar element having right-angularly related legs, one leg of each bar element being slidably connected to a said side member and the other leg being slidably connected to a said end member, said legs being slidable laterally outwardly from said side and end members to allow outward tilting movement of said members; and interengaging stop means on said legs and said members for limiting said outward sliding movement of' the legs and thereby outward tilting movement of said members, said bar elements being bodily movable in a downward direction in response to outward tilting movement of said members.

2. An expansible container for food and other products, comprising: a substantially rectangular, planar base; side members and end members extending upwardly from the side and end edges of the base and defining a substantially rectangular open top, said side and end members being pivotally connected to the respective side and end edges of the base and arranged for pivotal movement from a first, closed position in which they extend sub- 7 stantially normal to the plane of the base and outwardly to a second, open position in which they extend upwardly and outwardly from said edges of the base to expand the '-area of said open top, said expanded container being capable of nesting within a second, similarly expanded I container with its base resting upon the base of said second container, said side and end members having bearing means adjacent their upper free edges; connecting bar elements at the corners of the container, each bar element having right-angularly related legs, one leg of each 7 element being slidable in the bearing means of a said side member and the other leg being slidable in the bearing means of a said end member, said legs being slidable laterally outwardly from said side and end members and said elements being bodily movable in a downward direction to allow outward tilting movement of said members; and interengaging stop means on said legs and said bearing means for limiting said outward sliding movement of said legs and thereby outwardly tilting movement of said members.

3. A container as defined in claim 2 in which said bearing means is resiliently mounted on a said member non-corrosive, non-contaminative material. With the exception of the flexible support elements 50, which are constructed from stainless steel, all the parts are made from aluminum alloy stock. The lug is, therefore, rendered comparatively light in weight for easy handling,

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle of my invention, together with the structure which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. I wish to have it understood, however, that various modifications might be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts, all within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An expansible container for food and other products, comprising: a substantially rectangular, planar base; side members and end members extending upwardly from the side and end edges of the base and defining a substantially rectangular open top, said side and end members being pivotally connected to the respective side and for universal movement relative thereto so as to compensate for lateral, vertical and twisting movement of the leg relative to the member.

4. A container as defined in claim 2 in which said bearing means consists of a resilient bracket connected to a said member and having a bearing hole through which a said leg is slidable, said bracket being yieldable in lateral and vertical directions and being twistable so as to compensate for relative pivotal, slidable and torsional movement between said leg and said member during I pivotal movement of said member to its open and closed positions. e

5. A container as defined in claim 2 in which said side and end members have longitudinally-extending, tubular portions along their upper edges in which said legs of said connecting members are disposed, each bearing means consisting of a strip of flexible material having an end sate for relative pivotal, slidable and torsional movement imparted to the leg as a result of relative pivotal movement between a said side member and a said end member to open and closed positions.

6. A container as defined in claim 2 in which said side and end members have longitudinally-extending, tubular portions along their upper edges in which said legs of said connecting members are disposed, each bearing means consisting of a strip of flexible material having an end secured to an interior surface of a said tubular portion, the other free end of the strip having an angular extension provided with a bearing hole in which a said leg of a said connecting element is freely slidable, the unsecured portions of said strip being yieldable in lateral and vertical directions and being twistable so as to compensate for relative pivotal, slidable and torsional movement imparted to the leg as a result of relative pivotal movement between a said side member and a said end member to open and closed positions, said interengaging stop means including an abutment on each leg engageable against said angular extension through which the leg is slidable.

7. A container as defined in claim 2 in which said side and end members have inwardly, downwardly and outwardly bent portions along their upper edges, said bent portions defining longitudinally-extending tubes in which said legs of said connecting members are disposed, each bearing means consisting of a strip of flexible material having an end secured to an interior surface of a said tube portion, the other, free end of the strip having an angular extension provided with a bearing hole in which a said leg of a said connecting element is freely slidable, the unsecured portions of said strip being yieldable in lateral and vertical directions and being twistable so as to compensate for relative pivotal, slidable and torsional movement imparted to the leg as a result of relative pivotal movement between a said side member and a said end member to open and closed positions.

8. An expansible container for food and other products, comprising: a substantially rectangular, planar base; side members and end members extending upwardly from the side and end edges of the base and defining a substantially rectangular open top, said side and end members being pivotally connected to the respective side and end edges of the base and arranged for pivotal movement from a first, closed position in which they extend substantially normal to the plane of the base and outwardly to a second, open position in which they extend upwardly and outwardly from said edges of the base to expand the area of said open top, said expanded container being capable of nesting within a second, similarly expanded container with its base resting upon the base of said second container; means movably connected between adjoining portions of the side and end members and operative to limit outward pivotal movement of the members to their said open position; and interen gaging locking means on said side and end members and operative to releasably lock all of said members in their closed positions, said locking means comprising a pair of locking bails each having side legs pivotally connected to the inner side of a said end member and a cross bar extending between the side legs, said bails being disposed wholly within the confines of the container, said locking means also including keeper elements on the inner surfaces of said side members, said bails being pivotally movable from a first, inoperative position in which they extend substantially parallel to said end members to a second, operative position in which they extend substantially normal to said end members with their side legs extending substantially parallel to said side members, said side legs being receivable in said keeper elements to be frictionally retained thereby to prevent outward pivotal movement of said side members, said cross bars engaging inner ends of said keeper elements to prevent outward pivotal movement of said end members, said locking means further ineluding detent recesses in said side members adjacent said keeper elements into which said side legs snap when pivoted to locking position.

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